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Helen Cole 27/02/2025
I've always advocated giving experiences over stuff and nothing nails a big 50th birthday gift like an adventure....
Ihosted our bi-monthly Wine and Cheese night on Saturday with a
bunch of lovely local friends and mums. We pick a country and all bring a bottle and slab of cheese from
said region, tuck in and have a good old natter and invariably weave our way home.
A few of the
gals are approaching fifty, the big five-oh, so discussions quickly focussed on plans to celebrate. What
would you prefer? A weekend in a French Chateaux with family and friends? A massive shindig? Or a
sophisticated dinner at home or at your favourite restaurant with your closest people? I love a party so
that’s my plan, but I guess that could change in the next few years…And next to gifts.
Fifty is a
milestone birthday that deserves more than a panic-bought bottle of plonk or, heaven
forbid, another luxury bath set. This is a birthday that demands something with a bit more thought, a
bit more adventure, and a whole lot more fun. Because let’s be honest, by the time you hit 50, you’ve
got enough stuff and nowhere to put it! What you really want are experiences, time together, more
laughs, more converation.
So, whether you’re shopping for a partner, friend, or family
member who’s about to enter their fifties, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas that say
“You’re not old, you’re a legend.”
1. The
Gift of Making a Mess
At 50, you’ve earned the right to get your hands dirty but
in a stylish, artisanal way. Give a creative experience which requires one to roll up their sleeves.
A pottery throwing workshop lets them channel their inner Great Pottery Throw Down contestant, a
linocut printmaking class is a chance to create something frame-worthy or a Kintsugi class to master
the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with metal.
2. A Little Tipple
with a Twist
A good bottle of something is always appreciated but once it’s
drunk and in the recycling, hardly memorable. Try a gin distillery tour or cocktail masterclass or
send wine lovers on vineyard tour or tasting. There are brewery tours and tastings for beer lovers.
The options are endless, interesting and fun.
3. A Step Back in
Time
For those who love a bit of nostalgia, a swing dance class will have them
lindy-hopping and swaying like it’s the roaring twenties. Take them for dinner at The Room Where it
Happens, my favourite musical theatre bar for dinner and a singalong. Or maybe they’d prefer a
guided tour of London’s hidden history; Gin, Medieval Wine, Coffee, Churchill? Or take them to an
exhibition at the V&A. They’re always brilliant.
4. Something a Little
Wild
They’ve done the holidays, the city breaks, and maybe even a cruise. But
have they ever spent a night in a treehouse, Tipi, Yurt or a luxury caravan? Or tried foraging or
wild swimming followed by a sauna experience in the great outdoors? This is the kind of gift that
reminds them that adventure isn’t just for the young, it’s for the bold.
5. The
Ultimate ‘Do Nothing’ Experience
Sometimes, the best gift is permission to
switch off. No whatsapps, emails, no errands. Just pure relaxation. Book a swim and lunch session at
Thames Lido or a forest sound bath, yin yoga retreat or sauna session is the perfect way to press
pause and recharge. Just add a cup of herbal tea and a deep breath.
6. Club together to
Give Something Extraordinary.
Give something unforgettable and club together to share
the cost with friends. Head off for a luxury glamping experience in your own Landrover Defender,
enjoy a brilliant day out hopping between gin bars in an original mini cooper, learn the history of
the magic circle on a private Magical History walk or send them to Kent for a brilliant wild
swimming and foraging day out or vineyard tour and tasting.
I Give them something that makes them laugh, learn, or feel
alive. It’s about giving them a story to tell, not just another thing to dust. Because at 50, the best
years aren’t behind them, they’re just getting started.And if all else fails?
We all agree that
a cheese and wine tasting never disappoints. Cheers
to that!
